the Week of Proper 27 / Ordinary 32
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Bible Dictionaries
Hazael
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
God told the prophet Elijah that Hazael of Syria would be God’s instrument to punish Israel for its Baal worship during the reign of Ahab (1 Kings 19:15-17). Elijah’s successor, Elisha, wept when he saw the suffering that the cruel Hazael would bring upon Israel (2 Kings 8:12-15).
Hazael began his brutal attacks on Israel during the reign of Ahab’s son Joram (2 Kings 8:28-29). The attacks became more widespread during the reign of the next king, Jehu (2 Kings 10:31-33). They even spread into Judah, with attacks on coastal towns and on the capital, Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:17-18). Israel lost further territory to Hazael during the reign of Jehoahaz, and gained some relief only after Hazael’s death (2 Kings 13:1-3; 2 Kings 13:22-25). Israel looked longingly for the day when it would see a just punishment poured out on Syria because of Hazael’s cruelty (Amos 1:3-5).
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Fleming, Don. Entry for 'Hazael'. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​bbd/​h/hazael.html. 2004.